Animal-holding apparatus



(No Model.)

J. RALSTON. ANIMAL HOLDING APPARATUS.

No. 589,615. Patented Sept. 7,1897.

WITNESSES INVENTOH 3 W A TTOHNEYS.

UNirfan S'ra'rns ATENT reins.

JOHN RALSTON, OF SLIPPERY ROCK, PENNSYLVANIA.

ANIMAL-HOLDING APPARATUS. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 589,615, dated September 7, 1897. Application filed March 29, 1897. Serial No. 629,687. No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN RALsToN, of Slippery Rock, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Animal-Holding Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descript-ion.

This invention is an apparatus for holding sheep during the operation of shearing them, and it is broadly characterized by an adj ustable table on which the animal is situated between devices for holding the legs of the animal.

This specification is the disclosure of one form of my invention, while the claims define the actual scope of the conception.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, formingapart of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, and Fig. 3 is an elevation showing parts broken away and in section.

The apparatus has a base-plate a, whereon stands a stub-shaft a, inclosed by a tubular column Z), to which the vertical plate I) is rigidly attached. The upper edge of the plate I) is ratcheted and curved in the arc of a circle. Coextensive with the center of the circle of which said arm is a part is a pivot c, pivotally connecting the two plates 0 with the plate I). The plates 0 lie, respectively, on opposite sides of the plate I) and are rigidly at tached to the table d, to which table the plates 0 are at right angles. The table carries a irin awl b ressin a ainst the ratchetl a p 1 c a teeth of the plate I). This construction mountsthe table, so that it may be turned on the shaft a to any axial position and so that it may be given any inclination and be retained by means of the pivot c and. the pawl 22*.

Each end of the base-plate a has means for holding, respectively, the front and hind legs of the sheep, these two means being duplicates of each other. Each consists in an angle-plate 6, one member of which is rested on the base-plate a and held thereto by a fastening device e, working in a slot 6 in the said member of the an gle-plate. The second member of each angle-plate e is vertical and has a slot 6 in which fastening devices f, respectively, operate. Each fastening device f carries pivotally two vertically-e:itending arms f, the upper end of each of which is bent inward, forming a plate f which is provided with a padded slot f These four padded slots f are designed to respectively hold the legs of the sheep. The legs are locked in place by pivoted bars f held in closed position by linch-pins f". The arms f may be adjusted freely to regulate the position of the sheep.

In using the apparatus the sheep is placed on the tabled with its legs secured by the de vices on the arms f. The sheep is thus held eiiiectively and humanely.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An animal-holding apparatus, having a base, a stub-shaft standing on the base, a hollow column revolubly inclosing the stubshaft, a table pivotal] y supported by the hollow column, arms pivotally mounted on the base-plate, and means carried by the arms, whereby the legs of the animal are held.

2. An animal-holdin g apparatus, having a base-plate, a table mounted on the base-plate, an angle-plate adjustable on the base-plate, an arm ad justably pivoted on the an gle-plate, and means carried by the arm and capable of holding one leg of the animal.

3. An animal-holding apparatus having a base-plate, a ratchet-plate mounted to turn 011 the base-plate, a table, a plate pivoted to the ratchet-plate and fixed to the table, and a pawl carried by the table and engaging the ratchet-plate.

4. Ananimal-holding apparatus having a base-plate, a slotted angle-plate carried on the base-plate, a pivot adjustable in the slot of the angle-plate, an arm swinging on the pivot, and means on the arm for holding one leg of an animal.

5. An animal-holding apparatus having a base-plate, two pivotally-mounted arms supported on the base-plate, and holding devices respectively carried by the arms and adapted to hold two legs of an animal, whereby the legs may be moved toward and from each each an gle-plate, the arms of each an gle-plate other by the adjustment of the arms on their swinging on a common center and each arm to pivot. being capable of holding the leg of an animal. 6. The combination of a base, a column 7 L n T standing. on the base, a table supported by JOHN RALSlOL' the column, two angle-plates adjustable on Witnesses:

the base and respectively arranged at the O. A. XVILSON,

sides of the table, and two arms pivoted to II. A. XVILSON. 

